Loose-leaf binder



Jan. 21, 1930. LOTTER 1,744,275

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Sept. 12, 1928 wa/ww Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADOLPH G. LOTTER, OF MILWAUKEE, VTISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO STATIONERS LOOSE LEAF COMPANY, OF llrIILWAUKE-E, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Application filed. September 12, 1928.

This invention relates particularly to loose leaf binders of that type illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 258,228, in which the leaves are held in position by arcuate lingers or ring segments carried by two hingedly-connected sections forming the back of the binder and adapted to be secured in closed or locked position by one or more spring catches.

l'leretoitore, the opening of a binder of this type entailed considerable diiiiculty as both hands of the operator were required to release the spring catches at each side of the binder and this invention has as an object the provision of means whereby the spring catches on either side oi" the binder may be released from one side, requiring the use of but one hand, leaving the other hand free to assist the opening of the sections.

And a further object of this invention resides in the provision of a loose leaf binder oi? the character described having means for normally urging the sections toward open position whereby releasing of the spring catches automatically moves the sections out of full closed position.

With the above and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have il lustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed ccording to the best mode I have so tar devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose lea'lf binder embodying my invention with the covers in open position and their outer end portions cut away, and I Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 22 and with the sections closed.

Referring now more particularly to the accured.

Serial No. 305,442.

companying drawing, 5 designates two substantially complementary sections hingedly connected at their meeting edges, as at 6, to form the back of a binder; cover members 7 being hingedly connected with the sections as at 8.

Each section 5 is preferably formed of bendable metal and is of substantially .L shape in cross-section having sides 9 and 10 forming the legs of the L and being provided with end pieces 11 which, with the sides, provide an enclosure for the mechanism to be later described. The sides 9 of the sections have strips 12 secured thereto adjacent their outer marginal edges to which arcuate fingers or ring segments 13 are riveted or otherwise se- '1 he lingers 13 or one section are staggored with respect to those of the other sec tion to overlap each other when the sections are closed, illustrated in Figure 2, and leaves 1-1; are suitably apertured, as at 15, to receive the fingers.

Means are provided for securingthe sections in closed or locked position and comprise arcshal ed members 16 riveted or otherwise sccured to the end members of one section, the

ion carrying the members 19 to normally urge the keepers 18 into the path of the locking lugs 17, or inwardly with respect to Figure 2. A rivet or stud 23 carried by each member 19 at a medial point extends through arcuate slots 24.: in the end members of the section and to limit the movement of the members 19.

Each laterally extended keeper 18 has a recess 25 in which engage arms 26, extended laterally from an operating rod 27, the rod 27 being pivotally mounted in bearing members 28 secured to the side 10 of the member carrying the keepers and having a handle portion 29 at one end by which the rod 27 may be readily rocked on its pivotal mounting to move the keepers 18 through the arms 26. A coil spring 30 normally urges the rod 27 to its inoperative position permitting the keepers to be moved by their springs 21 into the path of the locking lugs 17.

In order to insure the opening of the sections as soon as the actuating member 29 is moved to release the keepers beyond the first locking lugs 17, springs 31 are coiled about the pivot 32 of the hinged connection 6 between the sections, at spaced intervals. The springs 31 have their ends engaging the inner walls of the sides 10 of each section, to at all times urge the same toward their open position, as will be readily apparent from Figure 2.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains that I provide a loose leaf binder in which the sections forming the back automatically open, upon releasing of their holding means, beyond the said means and in which the holding means positioned at the ends of the binder are released by the actuation of a single lever member located at one side of the binder, thereby requiring the use of but one hand for the opening of the binder.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of sections having longitudinal side members and end pieces, means hingedly connecting the sections for movement to and from closed position, a locking member carried by each end piece of one section, locking lugs extended from the locking members, keepers carried by the end pietes of the other section and c0- operating with the locking lugs to secure the sections in closed position, and means including a hand engaging member positioned at one end of the sections for retracting the keepers.

In a loose leaf binder, a pair of sections, means hingedly connecting the sections for IIIOVQIIKIHZ to and from closed position, a substantially are-shaped member carried by each end of one section, locking lugs extending from said member, a keeper mounted at each end of the other section and cooperating with each locking lug to secure the sections in closed position, a rod longitudinally pivotall v mounted in the other section, arms extended from the rod and cngageable with the keepers, and means for actuating the rod to simultaneously move both keepers out of the path of the locking lugs and release the sections for opening movement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ADOLPH G. LOTTER. 

